Nilesh Ahirwar’s family was overjoyed upon learning the news of his success in UPSC CSE 2023 exams. This young man from Narmadapuram secured 916th rank, making his family immensely proud. During his journey, he endured harsh conditions like living in a small, cramped room, and studying for eight hours under the leaking roofs in rainy season. Despite facing extreme poverty, he has achieved this remarkable feat. 

Achieving dreams

Nilesh Ahirwar is only 24 years old. In his young life, he has faced many hardships. He is also the most educated person in his family. His father never studied after class 2nd, and his mother, and grandparents are all illiterate. He cleared the UPSC exams in his third attempt.

Exam preparation

Nilesh and his entire family reside in a modest mud house of two rooms measuring 12 by 26 square feet. During his UPSC journey, he dedicated eight hours daily to his studies. He avoided distracts like television and instead used social media platforms like Telegram and YouTube to support his studies. His success is a testament to the fact that perseverance is the key to achieving all goals. 

Education

Nilesh completed his schooling from Tavanagar Model Higher Secondary School. He secured first division in his class 12 exams in 2016. Then, he went on the pursue a BTech degree in Agriculture from Gramodaya Agricultural University. 

UPSC journey

Due to the frequent power cuts in the village during summers, Nilesh could not entirely focus on his studies. He failed in his first two UPSC attempts but refused to give up. In the year 2023, on the advice of a friend, he rented a room in Bhopal and focused on studies. He took classes for one or two subjects, which helped him clear the prelims. When he successfully managed to make it to the Mains exam, he underwent three months of coaching in Delhi for further preparation.

Family’s support

Despite the financial difficulties, Nilesh’s father never compromised with his studies. Instead of working 8 hours a day, he worked for 12-14 hours to be able to pay for the coaching classes. His motivation was to ensure that his sons could pursue careers as officers. Currently, Nilesh’s younger brother is also preparing for competitive exams in Bhopal. The entire family is overjoyed by Nilesh's achievements.